When I think of education and what it means to me, it goes much deeper than academics. Education is not only about acquiring skills and knowledge to contribute to society but also about discovering oneself and learning how to be a compassionate, well-rounded human being. I have chosen teaching as my career because I am passionate about creating environments where students can grow academically, emotionally, and socially. I want to make a meaningful impact on the lives of my students by helping them reach their full potential and inspiring them to see the value in themselves and others. Students need to learn in an environment that sets them up for success in all aspects of life. To ensure this, teachers must tailor learning experiences to meet individual needs. Individualized education should extend beyond special education because every student learns differently. By recognizing and supporting these differences, we can help all students succeed. I also believe in fostering curiosity and critical thinking. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a student actively engaged in their education, eager to learn, and taking ownership of their growth. As teachers, we play a vital role in shaping young minds. We are not just facilitators of learning but also role models, mentors, and a support system. Creating a safe, inclusive, and judgment-free environment is essential to balance academics with the emotional needs of our students. Such an environment allows students to express themselves freely and learn to appreciate others’ differences. Building trust and mutual respect with students is a cornerstone of effective teaching. Students deserve the same respect we expect from them, and maintaining that respect strengthens the bond necessary for meaningful learning. On the academic side, I strive to make learning relevant to students’ lives. This connection not only helps them engage with the material but also shows that I value their interests and hobbies. Individualizing learning and assessing to support growth, rather than just measuring it, encourages students to embrace challenges and build confidence. Confidence, in my view, is one of the most critical attributes a teacher can nurture in their students. My ultimate goal as an educator is to leave a lasting impact. When my students reflect on their time in my classroom, I hope they remember me as someone who believed in them, taught them important life lessons, and supported them unconditionally. I want to inspire them to be kind, take risks, ask questions, and become lifelong learners. Perhaps some will even be motivated to follow the same path into education, just as I was inspired by teachers who believed in me. By fostering curiosity, respect, and resilience, I hope to create an enduring legacy in the lives of my students and contribute to building a better future for our society.

When I think of education and what it means to me, it goes much deeper than academics. Education is not only about acquiring skills and knowledge to contribute to society but also about discovering oneself and learning how to be a compassionate, well-rounded human being. I have chosen teaching as my career because I am passionate about creating environments where students can grow academically, emotionally, and socially. I want to make a meaningful impact on the lives of my students by helping them reach their full potential and inspiring them to see the value in themselves and others. Students need to learn in an environment that sets them up for success in all aspects of life. To ensure this, teachers must tailor learning experiences to meet individual needs. Individualized education should extend beyond special education because every student learns differently. By recognizing and supporting these differences, we can help all students succeed. I also believe in fostering curiosity and critical thinking. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a student actively engaged in their education, eager to learn, and taking ownership of their growth. As teachers, we play a vital role in shaping young minds. We are not just facilitators of learning but also role models, mentors, and a support system. Creating a safe, inclusive, and judgment-free environment is essential to balance academics with the emotional needs of our students. Such an environment allows students to express themselves freely and learn to appreciate others’ differences. Building trust and mutual respect with students is a cornerstone of effective teaching. Students deserve the same respect we expect from them, and maintaining that respect strengthens the bond necessary for meaningful learning. On the academic side, I strive to make learning relevant to students’ lives. This connection not only helps them engage with the material but also shows that I value their interests and hobbies. Individualizing learning and assessing to support growth, rather than just measuring it, encourages students to embrace challenges and build confidence. Confidence, in my view, is one of the most critical attributes a teacher can nurture in their students. My ultimate goal as an educator is to leave a lasting impact. When my students reflect on their time in my classroom, I hope they remember me as someone who believed in them, taught them important life lessons, and supported them unconditionally. I want to inspire them to be kind, take risks, ask questions, and become lifelong learners. Perhaps some will even be motivated to follow the same path into education, just as I was inspired by teachers who believed in me. By fostering curiosity, respect, and resilience, I hope to create an enduring legacy in the lives of my students and contribute to building a better future for our society.

When I think of education and what it means to me, it goes much deeper than just academics. Yes, education is learning how to do worldly skills and learn ways to contribute to society. However, it is also discovering yourself as a person and learning how to be a decent human being. Students need to learn in an environment that sets them up for success in all of these aspects. In order to ensure that they are getting this, it is important for us teachers to tailor their learning to them. Individualized education should travel farther than just special education. Every student is capable of learning, it just might be in different ways. They should also be in an environment that encourages curiosity and critical thinking. Nothing is better than when a student wants to learn, and has an active role in their education. As teachers, we play a major part in our students’ lives. We are facilitators of learning, role models, a support system, mentors… the list goes on and on. We get to shape young minds and help guide them to the right path of life. Creating a safe environment that is inclusive is a great way to balance academics with the emotional needs of our students. This gives them a judgment free zone that allows them to be themselves, and also learn to love others for their differences. It is extremely important to build a bond with our students and develop trust. Also, developing a mutual respect. They are people just like us, they want and deserve our respect just as much as we want and deserve theirs. The fastest way to lose the relationship you have built with a student is to disrespect them. Looking at the academic side of things, making the content relevant to their lives is a great way to build a love for learning. This also shows that you are interested in them and their hobbies. As I stated before, making learning individualized is also a great way to support your students. Assessing to support learning instead of just measuring it can encourage student growth and make it easier to improve instructional strategies that might not be strong. It also helps build confidence, which I think is one of the most important things to do as a teacher. When my students look back at their time in my classroom, I hope they remember me as someone who taught them important life lessons, was always there for them, and helped them achieve their academic goals at that time. I hope that I encourage them to be kind people, and to be successful and do their best in whatever life throws at them. I hope my students stay in touch, and feel like they can continue to share their accomplishments even after they are no longer in my classroom. I want them to remember to take risks, ask questions, and be lifelong learners. Maybe I will even inspire some of them to become educators just as my past teachers have inspired me.

When I think of education and what it means to me, it goes much deeper than academics. Education is not only about learning skills and acquiring knowledge to contribute to society but also about discovering oneself and growing into a kind, compassionate, and decent human being. I am pursuing a career in teaching because I believe in creating an environment that fosters both academic success and personal growth. My passion lies in helping students realize their potential, embrace their individuality, and develop the confidence they need to thrive in all aspects of life. I was fortunate to have a teacher who profoundly impacted my life and inspired my journey into this profession. In middle school, I had a teacher who didn’t just teach subjects but taught me how to believe in myself. They saw potential in me when I struggled to see it in myself, and their encouragement helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. This teacher created a classroom environment that was welcoming, inclusive, and engaging. They connected the curriculum to our lives, encouraged us to take risks, and fostered a love of learning in all of us. It wasn’t just the lessons they taught but the way they made me feel valued and respected that left a lasting impression. I carry their influence with me, striving to emulate that same spirit of compassion and support in my own teaching. As a teacher, I aim to be a facilitator of learning, a role model, a support system, and a mentor. I want to create a safe and inclusive environment where students feel free to be themselves and learn to embrace the differences in others. Building mutual respect and trust is foundational to this goal. Students deserve respect just as much as teachers do, and I believe that relationships built on understanding and empathy are the cornerstone of effective education. Academically, I believe in tailoring learning to meet each student’s unique needs. Every student is capable of learning, but they may approach it differently. Making content relevant to their lives and encouraging curiosity and critical thinking can ignite their love of learning. Assessing to support growth rather than just measuring achievement builds confidence and helps students see themselves as capable and successful. Confidence, after all, is one of the most critical gifts a teacher can give. When my students look back at their time in my classroom, I want them to remember me as someone who believed in them, taught them valuable life lessons, and inspired them to be kind, lifelong learners. My hope is that I can pass along the same inspiration and encouragement that my teacher gave me—helping my students face challenges, celebrate their successes, and perhaps even inspire some to become educators themselves.

"The purpose of teaching is to bring the student to his or her sense of his or her own presence," said Professor Harold Bloom. This quote shows how education can change people by helping them see their own worth, abilities, and potential. To feel like you're present, you need to become more self-aware, gain confidence, and learn how to interact with the world in a genuine way. This theory really hits home in special education because it stresses giving students the tools they need to see their strengths and love who they are. It is my job as a special education teacher to make sure that every student feels valued, accepted, and able to grow. I want to help each student find their own sense of presence. Building trust and respect is the first thing I do to make this happen. Making the classroom a safe and welcome place makes sure that students feel free to express themselves, which is important for helping them understand themselves. I also think it's important to tailor each student's learning to their skills. I help students succeed in ways that are important to them by figuring out what skills they already have and teaching in a way that builds on those. This personalized method makes them feel better about their own abilities and boosts their confidence. Promoting self-advocacy is another important part of my method. I teach my students how to understand and express their needs clearly. This gives them a strong sense of agency and helps them take responsibility for their learning. I also use social and emotional learning in my lessons to help my students think about their feelings, understand others, and become stronger. These skills are very important for letting them connect with others and themselves, which makes them feel even more present. It is just as important to give people chances to use what they learn in the real world. By getting my students involved in community service, group projects, and leadership roles in the classroom, I help them use their skills in useful ways that make them feel like they fit and have a purpose. It's also important to celebrate growth instead of just being focused on results. I stress effort and success, which helps students see that their worth goes beyond what they do in school. Lastly, I help my students develop a growth attitude by telling them to see problems as chances to learn and improve. By showing them how to be persistent and positive, I encourage them to face problems with confidence and strength. In the end, it's my job to show each student's unique ability and give them the tools, support, and encouragement they need to see and accept their worth. In this way, I respect Professor Bloom's deep insight and use it in my job as a special education teacher. I want every student to have a deep and important sense of their own presence through trust, advocacy, personalized learning, and giving them power.

My career of choice is a special education teacher in a middle school setting. My degree is in elementary/special education and this field holds a very special place in my heart. Being a paraprofessional in a resource class, I got to see the good and the bad of the support certain demographics of students received or didn’t from their general education teachers. I want to be an advocate for these students, and ensure they are receiving the best support possible. I feel like middle school is also a time where students start to find themselves and figure out the direction their life might be heading in. When I think of education and what it means to me, it goes much deeper than just academics. Yes, education is learning how to do worldly skills and learn ways to contribute to society. However, it is also discovering yourself as a person and learning how to be a decent human being. Students need to learn in an environment that sets them up for success in all of these aspects. In order to ensure that they are getting this, it is important for us teachers to tailor their learning to them. Individualized education should travel farther than just special education. Every student is capable of learning, it just might be in different ways. They should also be in an environment that encourages curiosity and critical thinking. Nothing is better than when a student wants to learn, and has an active role in their education. Being a full time student while also working full time brought in a lot of stress and sacrifices throughout my program. I would work Monday through Friday 8-4 at the middle school, and then after work go to my college class from 4:30-9:30. Then, on the weekends, I had to work a waitressing job to keep up with my bills. This meant constant working and school with little to no rest. Now that I am doing my student teaching, I am not allowed to work. Living in my own home and not being able to make an income has been a struggle for not only me, but my significant other. I am trying my best to apply to scholarships and make money where I can but this has not been easy. Teaching is a career that is always needed, and always has a shortage, but it is hard for people to get into it due to the lack of pay through school.